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REVIEW| AFFORDABLE SPRING/SUMMER PERFUMES - ZARA

"A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future".

The legendary Coco Chanel is quoted to having said that and while I do not agree with her sentiments, I can attest that perfume has a way of creating a vision, a fantasy if you may, for the wearer. It can take you from a sophisticated black-tie dinner to a breezy, sun-kissed palm-lined beachfront just from the mere bouquet of the fragrance.

Designer perfumes are my ideal choice for a memorable scent, however they do come with a hefty price tag. So, to make sure that I can keep them in my perfume collection for a longer time (while I save up for a new fragrance), I like to alternate with more affordable scents and in this post, I share my two current fave spring/summer scents from Zara.

Zara perfumes are known to be great dupes for designer perfumes, and while this information was unbeknown to me when I made my first purchase, I was entirely persuaded by the similarity between 'Pear and White Flowers' and Dolce and Gabbana's 'Dolce' to return and make further purchases.

Zara’s 'Pear and
White White Flowers’ is perfect for those who prefer light, airy scents. If I
could compare it to a season, it would definitely be the early days of spring
when the air is dusted with the aroma of new blossoms. Its scent is fresh, floral and fruity,
however the fruity component is rather grounded and earthy as opposed to being
overly crisp and noticeable. The aroma has a simple elegance about it and can be
worn as an everyday fragrance although I do recommend that it be worn as a day-time
fragrance purely because it’s so light and soft. In terms of styling, the perfume
would complement a relaxed lunch date outfit (say an off-the-shoulder white dress
with tan block heels) or any chic, minimalist office outfit. With regards to
the longevity of the perfume, I get about four hours’ wear before I need to
refresh the top notes in the bouquet, however the earthy base notes of
sandalwood and amber do linger on throughout the day.

Aptly named, 'Femme' is a truly feminine scent. Unlike 'Pear and White Flowers's calm persona, Femme has a rather luxurious and spicy aroma, giving it a very bold and long-lasting sillage. If you are hoping to go unnoticed in a room, do not wear this perfume! The scent is quite sharp and citrusy upon application, but mellows down into a sweet, creamy floral-oriental aroma which actually reminds me of a delicious cup of chai latte. As a dupe, the perfume has been compared to Dior's Hypnotic Poison. Although I've worn this perfume countless times during the day I think it's most suitable as a summer evening or winter scent; it can get a bit overwhelming in hot weather. The most distinguishable ingredient in the perfume is the sweet, creamy essence of vanilla which gives the fragrance its spicy characteristic. If you are looking for a dinner date or girls' night out fragrance, this is it. It's sensual and sophisticated and has an exotic mystique about it. Pair it with a red, figure-hugging little red dress and lace up heels and you are good to go!

The perfume also comes in a 100ml bottle, however the 10ml roll-on applicator is perfectly sized for a 'night-out' clutch bag or as a member of your travel makeup bag.

Love the simple and chic packaging of Zara perfumes

Zara South Africa recently added a few other newly launched fragrances to their collection and I think I tested one that smells similar to the ever popular 'Alien' by Thierry Mugler. I will be going back to confirm my suspicions, lol...

I would love to know which affordable perfumes you swear by and if you've used Zara perfumes, which are your favourite? Please comment below.